Laboratory apparatus



Nov. 22, 1960 M. C. SANZ LABORATORY APPARATUS Filed Nov. 20. 1,957

/l/A/VUEL C. SA/vz INVENTOR.

UniteN LABORATORY APPARATUS This invention relates generally to 'laboratory apparatus and more particularly to a laboratory stirring apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a laboratory apparatus which is suitable for stirring liquid solutions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a stirring apparatus in which the stirrer may be easily disposed as desired.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a laboratory stirring apparatus in which a ilexible sh'eath encloses a spring wire which is vibrated axially. The wire engages a stirrer and serves to pivot the same about a pivot whereby the stirrer agitates or stirs the liquid in which it is disposed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved laboratory apparatus whichincludes stirring means, and means for supplying and removing liquid.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more clearly apparent from the following description when read in -conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view showing the apparatus; and

Figure 2 shows the special cable employed in the apparatus.

A platform 11 serves to support the various components. A motive device 12 is carried on the platform. The device 12 may be, for example, an electromechanical device which has a vibrating member 14. The member moves up and down as indicated by the arrows 16. The device may include pump means which serves to provide a vacuum to the tube 17 and pressure to the tube 18. One such device 12 is an aquarium pump.

A cable is suitably attached to the apparatus 12, for example, by means of the clamp 19 which is secured thereto by the screws 21 and 22. The cable includes an outer exible sheath 23 which may be woven or wound to give the desired exibility and stiffness, an inner coaxial flexible sheath 24 which may be prepared as noted, and a flexible wire 2S which is adapted to slide axially within the sheath 24. The sheath 24 preferably tits loosely within the outer sheath. As a result, there is play between the two. The sheath 24 is secured to the sheath 23 at the stirrer end.

One end of the wire is suitably attached to the vibrating member 14, as for example, by the set screw 26. The other end of the cable is provided with a clamping means 27, for example, the hairpin-like clamp illustrated. Thus, vertical movement of the member 14 causes to and fro movement of the clamp 27 as indicated by the arrow 28. A xed clamp 29 is carried by the arm 30 which is suitably secured to the outer sheath 23. For example, the member 30 may be held in the collar 32 which is secured to the sheath by means of the thumb screw 33. The collar may be lrotated and moved along the sheath 23 to position theV stirrer at any angle with States Patent loc respect to the vertical. The stirrer 34 is clamped in the movable clamp 27 and iixed clamp 29 asv indicated. The to and fro movement of the ilexible wire 25 causes the clamp 27 to move back and forth thereby pivoting the stirrer 34 at the iixed clamp 2'9. The stirrer is then disposed in the liquid 36 which is held in a suitable container 37 and serves to stiror' mix the same. The stirrer is moved to and fro in a sinusoidal fashion. That is, lit moves slowly at the start` of a stroke and accelerates until the middle of the strike at which time it decelerates and slowly stops at the other end of the stroke. This motion is a result in part o'f the play between the various parts making up the cable.

It is apparent that theapparatusl illustrated and described is readily adaptable t be moved' to adjacent liquid reservoirs. It need not be secured to arings'faiid or to the container' co7,ritainiiigv the liquid. The length of the stroke's controlled by "the adjustment 4G 'arid/i' by controlling the tension of the wire 2S.

Power to the electrical apparatus may be applied through a cord 38 which includes a suitable plug 39. A switch 41 may be carried by the platform 11 and serves to provide means for energizing and de-energizing the electromagnetic means.

In many applications it is desirable to have means for sucking up or removing any spilled liquid. Thus, the vacuum hose 17 is connected through the stopper 42 with the interior of the vessel 43. A flexible tube 44 communicates with the inside of the vessel and has a relatively rigid member 46 aiiixed to the other end thereof. The member `46 may then be placed in a fluid and the suction in the vessel -43 serves to draw the liquid through the tube 44 into the vessel which acts as a receptacle.

In certain applications it is also `desirable to be able to supply fluid to various vessels or to use uid for washing off various apparatus. The pressure tube 18 is suitably attached to the pipe 47 which has the end 48 open to the atmosphere and its other end communicating with the inside of the vessel 49. A second pipe 51 extends downwardly into the vessel and is submersed in the fluid carried thereby. A exible tubing 52 is connected to the upper end of the piping and is provided with a member 53. Thus, if it is desired to supply iluid to vessels or to wash oit apparatus, etc., the opening 48 is closed with one finger and the pressure within the vessel forces the liquid outward along the tube through the member 53.

Thus, it is seen that an improved stirring apparatus is provided. It is adaptable to be disposed at any convenient location and need not have special apparatusfy to hold the same in a position over the liquid to be stirred. The position of the stirrer with respect to vertical may be easily adjusted and the length o1q the stroke nf may be controlled. Furthermore, the apparatus includes means for removing or supplying liquid as desired.

I claim: e

said Wire.

2. A stirring apparatus comprising Velectromagnetic, ,y

means including an oscillating member, a flexible cable attached to said means, said flexible cable including Yat v least an outer flexible sheath and an inner flexible wire loosely carried within said outery sheath, the adjacent*V end of said wire being connected to said oscillating member whereby it is moved to and fro in the direction of its length, the sheath being secured to said electromagnetic means so that it remains stationary, the other end of said Wire being provided with `clamping means, a clamp secured to said sheath, a stirring rod adapted to be clamped between said first and second clamps and adapted to be pivoted on said first clamp by the to and fro movement of the flexible wire.

3. A laboratory apparatus comprising a exible member including first and second sheaths, said second sheath loosely disposed within the first and a wire carried within the second sheath for lengthwise movement, means for moving one end of the wire in the direction of its length, a stirrer, means disposed at the other end of the wire for engaging the stirrer and means attached to the rst sheath for engaging another portion of said stirrer whereby the stirrer is pivoted on said last named engaging means by movement of said rst named engaging means.

4. A laboratory apparatus comprising a ilexible elon gated member including an outer sheath and a member loosely disposed within said sheath, means attached to one end of said member to impart sinusoidal oscillatory motion to the same in the direction of its length, a stirrer adapted to be immersed in a solution to be stirred, means carried by the other end of said member for engaging said stirrer, clamping means releasably secured to the adjacent end of the outer sheath and adapted to clamp said stirrer whereby the stirrer is pivoted on said clamping means and moves with a to and fro motion in said solution, said flexible member having lost motion due to the loose t within the sheath whereby the stirrer accelerates at the start of its motion and decelerates at the end of its motion to undergo a sinusoidal oscillatory motion.

References Cited in the rile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1.A LABORATORY STIRRING APPARATUS COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE MEMBER, SAID MEMBER INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE SHEATH AND A WIRE LOOSELY DISPOSED WITHIN THE SHEATH, MEANS FOR MOVING ONE END OF THE WIRE TO AND FRO IN THE DIRECTION OF ITS LENGTH, A STIRRER, MEANS DISPOSED AT THE OTHER END OF SAID WIRE FOR ENGAGING SAID STIRRER, AND MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID SHEATH FOR ENGAGING ANOTHER PORTION OF SAID STIRRER WHEREBY THE STIRRER IS PIVOTED ON SAID LAST NAMED ENGAGING MEANS BY THE TO AND FRO MOVEMENT OF SAID WIRE. 